For the last two years I’ve had a goal of reading 52 books. That’s a pretty ambitious goal for me considering the most I’ve probably ever read in a year is 30. This year, I’ve set out to do it again. There’s just one problem. It’s February and I’ve only just started my third book. So what do you do when you’re committed to a reading goal and you have to catch up? I’ll tell you one thing you don’t do…choose a long ass book!
Like that one time, in 2018, when I had the brilliant idea of starting Good for Her Book Club and I decided Katherine Graham’s personal memoir would be the first book we’d read. Not a problem!
Except... we were going to be reading this book in February, the absolute shortest month of the year, and I never even checked the page count. It’s 625 pages! Yikes.
So, what’s a Reader to Do? Here are a few things you can try.
8 Ways to Get Through a Really Long Book
1.) Break It Up
It’s always helpful to celebrate your milestones. Before you start reading, look at the number of pages. In the case of Katherine Graham’s Personal History, we’ve got 625! Let’s take that number and divide it in half. 312 pages. This is the number of pages you’ll need to read in a week. No worries! You’ve got this! Divide that number by 7 and now you have the number of pages you need to read each day of the week. In this case, 312 divided by 7 is 45 pages a day. Completely Do-able! Providing you follow at least a few of the next steps!
2.) Wake Up & Read
I hope you’re an early person! If not I highly recommend you get your hands on a copy of The Miracle Morning by my inspiring friend and top-selling author Hal Elrod. Set your alarm at least 30 minutes early, (an hour would be ideal) and find a relaxing place in your home to read. Grab a cup of coffee or hot tea, turn on a reading lamp, light some candles if that’s your thing and start reading! It will be quality alone time you enjoy and you can get at LEAST half of your reading done for the day.
3.) Bring Your Book Everywhere
This is pretty simple and really needs little explanation. Waiting for an appointment? Getting your car washed? Riding the train? Waiting in the car for your children? Take every opportunity to read when you can. Just remember, please don’t force it, otherwise you won’t ENJOY it and we certainly don’t want that!
4.) Show Up Early for Everything
It’s an easy equation, the earlier you show up, the more time you have to read. Can’t find a place without distractions and interruptions? See our next recommendation or stay in your car. Turn on some relaxing music in your car, lower the volume to a comfortable level and enjoy a few minutes of escape.
5.) Double Team It with Audio
If you really want to speed up your game, see if there’s an audio version of your book. Don’t have a subscription? Check out your local library, it’s a great free resource with many audio titles available for your phone, iPad or computer. Listen while you walk, ride or drive.
6.) Escape to Your Favorite Coffee Shop
Time to get away? Find a cozy and quiet corner in your local coffee shop or Starbucks and curl up with your favorite beverage and book. No further explanation needed.
7.) It’s ok to SKIM the Boring Parts
Skimming? Yes, skimming! There is no rule saying you have to read every word of a book. I’m not a big fan of speed reading but I’m a big fan of skimming! If a book is cumbersome to get through or if the offer goes on and on about something that’s boring, uninteresting or irrelevant, give yourself permission to skim it! Just don’t skim so much of the book, you miss the best parts or lose important parts of the story.
8.). Read Before Bedtime
Many successful people read before bed. Arianna Huffington unwinds with only real books, and that’s what I recommend here. (Yes a kindle with low blue light works too, if you really must take technology to bed with you.) Creating a routine like reading before bedtime, helps your body unwind and is much better than falling asleep to a screen. Bedtime stories…they’re not just for kids!
